As thousands of Bay Area commuters struggle through the second day of the BART strike, three of California’s top Democratic statewide elected officials — Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, State Controller John Chiang and State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones — are strongly taking both union leaders and BART management to task.

The three politicians released a letter calling on both labor and management “in the strongest possible terms” to resume negotiations immediately and provide relief to hundreds of thousands of riders suffering through the walkout in the Bay Area.

And using some unusually strong language, Newsom, Jones and Chiang slap both labor and management, citing specific ways they have “fallen short” in efforts to resolve the issues.

Here’s their letter:

July 2, 2013

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District

300 Lakeside Drive

P. O. Box 12688

Oakland, CA 94604

To the Board of Directors, Executive Management and recognized employee representatives of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District:

We, the undersigned, are writing to express our deep concern with the breakdown of collective bargaining at BART and to urge in the strongest possible terms all parties involved in negotiations to return to the bargaining table.

We are acutely aware of the widespread personal hardship and severe economic disruption caused by even a short interruption in BART service. BART is the fifth-busiest transit system in America, with nearly 400,000 daily riders. For tens of thousands of Bay Area residents, it is the sole accessible and affordable way to get to work, school, childcare and/or other family responsibilities.

We are particularly disappointed about the lack of productive proposals and counter-proposals in the days leading up to the strike and that bargaining was abandoned hours before contract expiration. Given the massive dislocation a protracted strike will cause, you owe the people of the Bay Area your time, your concentration and your best good-faith effort at reaching a bargained agreement.

It is our collective opinion that, so far, you have fallen short.

To BART’s unions: While the compensation increases you are seeking may seem fair to you given the length of time workers have gone without a raise and other sacrifices, you must recognize the need of government at all levels to balance rising employee costs with the imperative of providing crucial transportation, health care and safety net services to the people of California.

To BART’s directors and management: We share your commitment to providing reliable, affordable public transportation to a rapidly growing Bay Area, but you would be well-advised to treat your frontline employees – many of whom have raised numerous valid concerns about worker and rider safety – as partners in creating a safer system. It also is disingenuous to attack your workers for asking for a raise that, when contrasted with management’s proposed cuts – barely leaves them running in place.

We urge you to return to the table and resume negotiations. All of us are willing to join you to ensure that talks are fair, focused and attended by all of the necessary individuals from both Labor and BART management.

One or more of the undersigned will be contacting your representatives to confirm your response.

Sincerely,

JOHN CHIANG

California State Controller

DAVE JONES

California Insurance Commissioner

GAVIN NEWSOM

California Lieutenant Governor

UPDATE:
SEIU Local 1021 just released its response to Chiang, Jones and Newsom regarding suspension of bargaining at BART. The union says it would welcome the “personal attention” of all three to return to the bargaining table.

The members of Service Employees International Union, Local 1021 share your concern with the suspension of bargaining at BART. If your personal attention can bring a fresh perspective to negotiations, our union would be willing to consider returning to the table.

Our BART workers are intensely proud of the work they do. They’ve helped build one of the fastest-growing and highest-rated public transit systems in America. They’re committed to the work they do and would love to return to the job. We appreciate your recognition of the legitimate safety concerns raised by workers and the weakness of the District’s offer.

SEIU and ATU negotiators spent a fruitless 36 hours at the bargaining table over the past weekend attempting to reach an agreement with the district. On Saturday, alone, we spent 10 hours at the table at the behest of the mediator, during which time district negotiators appeared just once to provide a written copy of a proposal they had made verbally days before. The district threw in the towel and pushed away from bargaining hours before the expiration of the contract..

We await your call and will make our bargaining team available for background discussions if you would like to familiarize yourselves with specific issues.